Cinematic Era: 1926 Vintage

Feature-length documentary divided into six acts.

Silent black-and-white documentary from 1926, produced by the Istituto Nazionale Luce, "Ritorno di Roma" is divided into three parts. It showcases various African regions that were part of the ancient Roman Empire, drawing parallels with territories colonized by Fascist Italy. The film offers panoramic views and detailed sequences of archaeological sites in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, as well as scenes of daily life in Italian colonies of the time, such as Massaua, Asmara, and Mogadishu.

Adalbert Marx, a widower, owns an apartment building as well as the Maxim Bar. To win over the young Iduna, he lets her move into the spacious front building with her mother and brother Fritz. She is also allowed to work as a dancer at the Maxim, while Fritz bores the bar’s patrons with classical music.

The inauguration of the new “Old Bridge” in Frankfurt am Main on August 15, 1926.

Using trick cards, animations, graphics, and numerous statistics, the film attempts to prove that the economy of a major industrial nation like Germany is existentially dependent on raw materials from the colonies. It also tries to historically legitimize colonial possessions, from the Phoenicians to German colonies. Colonies, according to the central message, ensure the circulation of goods and commodities, increase national wealth, and ease Germany's burden of the reparations payments imposed upon it by the Treaty of Versailles.

Photos from President Relander's trip to Riihimäki and Hämeenlinna.

Kurt Jäger's sports documentary Salpausselä Skiing 4-7.2.1926 (1926), produced by Taide-Film, follows a four-day competition program that begins with the Finnish Defence Forces biathlon competition. The competition continues with the men's 30-kilometer cross-country race, the combined race, and the men's and women's relays. The sporting event culminates in the 50-kilometer cross-country race and ski jumping. In addition to the Finns, the documentary features close-ups of Swedish and Norwegian sports heroes.

Photos from Latvian President Tschakste's visit to Finland, the president's arrival and departure ceremonies.

A train has crashed into the wall of Helsinki's station building, the crushed carriages are being cleared away.

1926 Australian lost silent film

Life Cartoon Comedies shorts

Life Cartoon Comedies short

A sightseeing tour of A Coruña, showing the Tower of Hercules, the Castle of San Antón, the Church of Santiago, the Convent of Santa Bárbara, the Church of Santo Domingo, the Gardens of San Carlos and other streets and monuments of the Old City; to continue through the centre: port, San Andrés, Juana de Vega and Plaza de Pontevedra, Banco Pastor building. It continues through the Marina and shows a route along the tram lines, which reach what is now the metropolitan area. It ends by showing Ciudad Jardín, under construction.

A Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes short.

The heroic 19th century figure of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his role in the Risorgimento to unify Italy into one nation state are used to celebrate the bravery and grandiosity of Italy's new leader at the time the film was made, Benito Mussolini.

British horror drama short from 1926.

Take a journey with Dr Hamilton Rice as he embarks on his final expedition of the easterly tributaries of the Amazonian basin.

A 1926 black and white documentary film compilation from naturalist and film pioneer Cherry Kearton of his time in Africa.

A horse and cabbie run into trouble while out on the town, and end up in a race.

Fifty years after the Battle of Little Big Horn, the surviving personnel, Indian and the 7th Cavalry, show up on the battlefield to exchange an American flag and Indian blankets.

A behind the scenes look at how a Circus sets up a show. A Varieties Short.

An Aesop’s Film Fables cartoon.

Engineer Roger Courteville, accompanied by his wife and mechanic Julio Kotzent, undertakes a 10,000 km raid across the South American continent. The use of the car turns the crossing into an impossible adventure.

Footage of a helicopter at an airport. Shot from different perspectives, with much attention paid to the technology and the mechanics of the rotating blades. Several men try to fly the helicopter, but their attempts fail, and the helicopter remains on the ground the whole time. At the end, there is a small “accident”, as a part of the tailpiece breaks off. This footage was shot so that the test flights could be analyzed later.

Newsreel depicting the second visit of Christian X, king of Denmark and Iceland, to Iceland in 1926. Iceland was from 1918 - 1944 a sovereign state united with Denmark under a common king.

Here's an interesting bypath in animation, as we get a view of a mountain waterfall, a Martian building a bungalow, and various other brief bits.

Day Dreams is a 1926 silent film.

Felix digs to China.

Felix dreams that he's in Hell.

Compelling travel feature edited from footage of the 1925-26 Worsley Algarsson Arctic expedition.

Mutt and Jeff's hilarious hijinks.

Should a Girl Propose? is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by P.J. Ramster set in the high society world of Sydney. The film featured several players from Ramster's acting school. It is considered a lost film.

Documentary short about the Berlin telegraph office.

Dave Fleischer short.

A LIFE Cartoon Comedy

A reconstruction of the arrival of the British Army in France in August 1914, and of the retreat from Mons.

Short silent film.

Lovely footage of women modelling new hair accessories. (British Pathé)

Latest hairstyles are shown then a "shingle cap" - an elaborate beaded hair net. (British Pathé)

A horse always finds greener grass in his neighbors yard, but his neighbors are not too happy.

In this early demonstration of the Vitaphone sound system, conductor Herman S. Heller conducts the Vitaphone Symphony Orchestra in the title work. It is basically a medley of patriotic songs from World War I.

Fashion newsreel

An early animated Song Car-Tune from the Fleischer Studios.

Residences, churches, funeral march, school children in Muskogee, OK; Taft, OK; and Okmulgee, OK.

Ships, ship travel, and royal locations in London and Liverpool, England; well-known and typical sights in Paris, Versailles, and Marseilles, France.